Index rack



Nov. 29, 1927. 1,650,890

W. P. DE SAUSSURE, JR

INDEX RACK Filed Oct. 21

52 '5 JOHN SMITH :02

- 5 THOMAS H. M 104 cmcmo fin? ALFRED c KE 105 BOSTON IN ENTOR M W BY ifAT'roRNEY Nov. 29, 1927. v 1,650,890

' W. P. DE SAUSSURE, JR

INDEX RACK Filed Oct. 21, 1924 W i'lzql i 2 THOMAS HJVHLLER I04 CHICAGO2 42 v l? IEVENTOR a) Ab ATTORNEYiiillllllllllllllllillllllllllllillllllll W I- Nov. 29, 1927. 1,650,890w. P. DE sAussuRE, JR

INDEX RACK Filed 061;. 21. 1924 o 6 Eu; .5

FREDERICK JONES l5! NEWYORK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I, ATTORNEY lNVE TOR 20 M1H Patented Nov. 29,

WILLIAM P. De satissunn, an,

or nnennvvoon, nnw annsnv.

INDEX BACK.

Application filed October 21, 1924. SeriaLNo. 744,879.

This invention relates to visible index and information racks of thekind known as drop-pocket racks, which comprise a series of card pocketsinclined to the longitudinal dimension ot the rack so that the pocketsare in overlapping relation and adapted to' hold cards or sheets with anarrow upper' portion of each card exposed. It is lior many usesdesirable that such index racks shall be provided with means for holdingcertain cards and signal devices associated with individual pockets moreor less permanently, while permitting such cards, or cer tain ot' them,to be removed. and replaced with others when desired. Such more or lesspermanent cards and signal devices may be, for example, number cards androom data cards and signal devices of racks used as hotel room racks.

An object of the present invention is to provide means for holding; suchmore or less permanent cards and devices in drop-pocket racks in whichthe partition plates between the pockets of the completed or assembledrack are not slidable or separately remov able in the ordinary use ofthe rack. Such racks may be termed lined pocket racks. For holding themore or less permanent cards and signal devices associated with in.-dividual pockets of such fixed pocket racks, I provide detachablecardholders, or pocket tops, which fit on to the tops of the pocketpartition plates and are removal'ile thercfrom to permit cards carriedthereby to be changed or to permit the holders to be re placed byholders carrying other cards desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved constructionoi? droppocket rack in which the pockets are termed by flanged plates,or CttltlSrllJljOllS, asse1nbled in a. rack frame in overlappingsuperposed relation. Fixed pocket racks are conveniently made byassembling the card sup ports in the rack frame and securim, them inposition by holding means engaging the end supports so that the supportsare not movable individually or in blocks longitudinally of the frame inthe use of the rack. Features of the invention miq'ht be employed inindex racks in which the card supports are slidable in the completedrack. When the rack is provided with an improved pocl: et top or cardholder, however, there isno need of having the card supports slidahle inthe rack frame.

A :tull understanding of the invention can best be given by a detaileddescription of an approved form of index rack embodying the invention,and such a description will now be given in connection with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate a hotel room rack made inaccordance with the invention and a modification thereof. In said dravings Fig. 1 is a front elevation oi such an approved form of myimproved index rack;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2- 2 0t is- I Fig. 3 is a partialtop plan view of the ndex raclnthe top member being omitted;

Fig. l is an enlarged vertical section on line ll of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional View of one of the card supports takenon line 5-5 of Fig. 4;, but on a scale intermediate between thatot 1 andFig. l;

F g. 6 is a perspective of one of the card uppo Fig. 7 is a perspectiveof one of the card and "signal holders;

Fig. 8 is a perspective of a room number card;

is a perspective of a signal slide;

Figs. 10 and 11 are perspectives of two transparent panels;

Fig. 12 is a perspective of a room data card;

Fig. card; 7

Fig. "14 is a perspective of a name card;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged perspective view of anend portion of oneofthecard and signal holders showing the manner in which some of the partsare mounted in the holder;

16 is a front view of a card support provided with another form of thecard and signal holder;

Figs. 17, 18 and 19 are partial front views of the device shown in Fig.16, but showing the signal device in ditlerent positions;

Fig. 20 is a section on line 2020 oit Fig.

Fig. 21 is a perspective of a color signal strip; and

Fig. 22 is a partial front view or a card support having another form ofthe card holder.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1 to 15, the index rackcomprises a rack t'rame 10 and a plurality of card sup ports mounted inthe frame in overlapping superimposed relatiomtorming a plurality 13 isa perspective of a color signal ill) of card holding pockets. The rackframe 10, formed most desirably of sheet metal, comprises a back plate11 and two parallel sides 12 and 13 which extend forward from the backplate. The edge portions of the sides 12 and 13 are bent to forminwardly and rearwardly extending flanges 14 and 15, the rearwardlyextending portions of which are spaced from the sides, and the edges ofwhich are spaced from the back plate 11 a distance which depends uponthe width and inclination of the card supports. The bottom edge of theback plate is provided with a forwardly extending flange 16 having anupturned edge 17. l

The card supports 20, one of which is shown separately in Fig. 6, aremade of sheet metal or other suitable sheet material out and bent toform a rectangular plate 21 having at its bottom edge a straight flange22 extending forward at right angles to the plate 21 and having at eachend a forwardly extending flange 23. The bottom and end flanges allextend the same distance from the plate 21 and serve as spacing flangesfor engaging the back face of the adjacent card support when thesupports are assembled in the rack frame, and the bottom flanges of thecard supports also form the bottoms of the pockets between adjacentassembled card supports. The card supports are of a length to fit freelybetween the sides of the frame 10 so that they may be slid into place inthe frame. In order that the end spacing flanges 23 shall surely engagethe back face of the adjacent support, they are formed with inwardlyturned edges 24. The flanges 23 most desirably do not extend all the waydown to the bottom edge of the plate 21, the lower portion of the platebeing slightly out awa as shown at to avoid possible interference withthe setting of the card supports in the frame and with relation to eachother.

The card supports are also formed with rearwardly projecting lugs 26stamped out from the back plate 21 and arranged in line parallel to thebottom edge of the plate and spaced from the bottom edge a. distanceequal to the distance which it is desired the upper portion of thesupport shall project above the top of the next lower support. In theassembled device the bottom flanges of successive card supports rest onthe lugs 26 of the support next below, the lugs 26 thus serving todetermine the spacing or extent of overlapping of the assembled cardsupports. The lugs 26 desi 'ably project a distance slightly less thanthe width of the flanges 22. A notch 27 is formed in the upper edge ofeach card support near each end thereof, the space between these notchesbeing equal to the distance between the inwardly extending flanges 14and 15 of the frame.

In assembling the card supports in the rack frame, the supports areinserted in the frame one after another from the top. The lowermost, orfirst inserted card support, rests with its bottom on the flange 16 ofthe rack frame and inclined forwardly with its upper edge restingagainst the edges of the flanges 11 and 15. The following card supportsare slid into place, each successive support coming to rest with itsbottom flange 22 supported by the lugs 26 of the card support next belowit and with its flanges against the back of the support next below andits upper edge against the frame flanges 11 and 15, the plates 21 of thecard supports being thus spaced apart and card-receiving pockets beingformed between the successive plates which become partition platesbetween the pockets. The width of the bottom flanges is so proportionedwith relation to the distance of the lugs 26 from the bottom of the cardsupports and the inclination of the card supports when assembled in theframe that when the supports are pressed together the bottom flange ofeach card support will slightly wedge between the back plate of the rackframe and the plate 21 of the card support next below. lVhen the rackframe has been filled with the required number of card supports and thesupports properly pressed together and consolidated within the frame, atop holding member 30 formed to press against the hack of the uppermostcard support in the frame is placed and secured in position. This topmember may, as shown, be formed from a piece of sheet metal bent toprovide a wedge to enter between the back plate of the frame and theback of the uppermost card support, and may be secured to the back plateof the fran'le by screws hen the card supports are so positioned withinthe rack frame, the upper portions of the end flanges of the severalsupports extend between the inwardly-turned frame flanges 14 and 15 andthe frame sides 12 and 13, and the edges of the flanges 1-land 15 arereceived in the notches 27 formed in the upper edge of the supports. Notonly, therefore, are the card supports firmly held in position in therack frame, but the imvardlv turned side flanges of the frame are inturn held by their engagement in the notches 27. The provision of theinwardly turned flanges on the sides of the rack frame not only add tothe aj'ipearance of the device as a whole but largely increase thestrength of the frame, especially when so held by the notches 2'7, andthe frame may therefore be made of thinner material than would otherwiseafford sufficient strength.

The plates 21 of the card supports. that is, the partition plates at therear of the )OCkCtS in the completed rack, are hrovided with detachablecard holders -10. Each su h card holder is formed from a strip of sheetmetal folded lengthwise to provide a narrow pocket having a front wall41, a back wall 42, and an inner wall or flange 43 turned upward fromthe bottom of the front wall. The holder is positioned on the upperportion of the plate :21 of the card support to which it is attach-ed byentering the edge of the plate 21 between the back wall of the holderand the flange 43, and then forcing the holder down on the plate. henthe holder is off from the card support the flange 43 lies flat againstthe back wall 42 so that these parts are forced apart by the plate 21,and by pressing against the plate serve to clamp the holder firmly onthe plate while permitting it to be readily removed wholly or partlytherefrom when desired. The back wall 41 of the holder is desirablyextended downward somewhat beyond the bottom of the holder as shown forconvenience in placing the holder on the support. The holders aredesirably of sufficient length to extend all the way across the top ofthe support between the frame flanges 14 and 15. The front wall 41 ofeach holder is'formed with a sight opening or openings for exposingcards or devices mounted within the holder between its front wall andthe inner wall 43. In the hotel room rack illustrated by Figs. 1 to 15,the card holders are designed to carry each a room number card. a roomdata card and a signal device. and the front wall of each holder has anopening 44 at the eft hand end of the holder and an opening 45 in itsmiddle portion. The width of these openings is slightly less than the.vidth of the pocket within the holder so that retaining flanges areleft at the top and bottom of the openings."

Each holder is provided in the rack shown with a room number card 50, aroom data ,card 51, a signal card 52. and a signal slide 53. These cardsor parts are inserted into each holder from the ends thereof and withthe exception of the slide 53their position is not changed in the holderduring the ordinary use of the index rack. They are made of suitablewidth so as to enter the pocket of the holder but to be held therein bythe top and bottom flanges of the sight openings.

The signal cart-. 52, which is a short strip of colored paper or othersuitable material is inserted into the holder from the lefthand end andwhen in position extends from the end of the holder asfar as the inn-erend'of the opening 44. The signal slide 53. which may be made of metaland has a projecting tab 54 at one end. is inserted in front of thesignal card with its tab 54 at its inner end. The room number card isthen insertetv in front of the slide and positioned at the outer end ofthe opening 44. The room number card is of a length slightly greaterthan one-half the length of the opening- 44. and the signal slide is ofa length greaterthan the distance from the end of the room number cardto the inner end of the opening, the room number card and signal slidebeing desirably of equal length. The tab 54 of the slide projectsthrough the opening 44 and by means of this tab the slide may be movedto the right to cover, or to the left to expo c, the portion of thesignal card which extends inward beyond the end of the room number card.The outer lower corner of the slide is cut away as shown for a purposeto be explained. If desired, a protecting strip or panel of transparentmaterial may be placed in the holder in front of the room number card.The room number card, signalcard, and transparent panel are locked inposition in the holder by crimping down the end of the lower flange ofthe holder pocket as shown at 56, Fig. 15. This will not lock the slide53 owing to its having its lower outer corner cut away, and the slidewill therefore be free to be moved lengthwiseof the holder. lts movementis limited by engagement of its tab 54 with the inn-er edge of the card50 and the inner edge of the opening 44 respectively. The flange at theupper edge of the opening 44 to the right of the inner end of the card50 and panel 55 may be crimped down slightly as shown in Fig. 15 inorder to better guide the slide in its movement and also to prevent thecard 50 and panel 55 from J moving inward with the slide if the lockingof these parts by the crimp 56 should be defective.

The room data card 51, which is a strip bearing desired information asto the price and equipment of the room, is inserted in the holder fromthe right hand end and is viewed when in position through the opening45. A protecting strip or panel 57 of transparent material may also beplaced in the holder in front of the room data card if desired.

When the card holdersare positioned on the plates 21 of the assembledcard supports, the ends of the holders willbe sufficiently covered bythe frame flanges 14 to prevent any accidental outward movement of thecards carried by the holders. hen it is desired to change the room datacard of the card holder, or pocket top, of any pocket, it is onlynecessary to raise the right hand nd of the particular holdersuiiiciently to permit the room data card to be withdrawn and onecontaining the desired information inserted, and then press the holderdown again into position. If it should be desired to change a. roomnumber or even to make some change in the signal device, this mayreadily be done by removing the particular card holder, making thedesired change, and then returning it to its place; or a differentholder may be substituted in its place.

The guest cards 60, which may bear the name and address of the guest andthe number of the room occupied and other desired information, or othertenlporary tarda, are simply dropped into the pockets to which theybelong. each gucst -ard being placed in the pocket marked with the roomnun'iber of the room to be occupied by the gueat those name appears onthe card. These cards are desirably of a width. or height. such thattheir upper portion will extend in front of the openings 45. and theyshould he of less length than the pockets so that they may he placed inthe )()t'l(0if without covering the room number cards. They should he ola length not greater than the distance between the right hand l'rainetiange 1:; and the (ab 51" oi the signal slide when the slide lf-T- inits leit hand position. but r than the dis' H from the right the signalslide when the slide is in its right: hand position. so

that when the slide s in it; position to right to cover the coloredsignal card. slide tab 5i will interfere with the placoi? a guest cardin the pocl-Ict. and. on other hand. when a guest card is in place in apocket with the slide moved over to the left, the card will prevent theslide tron being moved over to the right.

Inthe use of the hotel room index rack whicn haesv been (lCf-CllbC-Ll,the colored signal card showing through the sight opening 4*]; of anypocket top indicates that the room with the number of which that pocketis marked has not been sold. See the pocket top of uppermost pocltein 1. hen a. room is sold or engaged the clerk mews the signal slide ofthe corresponding pocket to the right to cover the signal card, as shownfor the poc et. third from the top in Fig. 1. Yi'hen on arrival of theguest the guest card is made out. the signal slide or the pocketcorresponding to the room the guest to occupy is moved to the lelt andthe guest card is inserted in the pocket. See 'l'ourt-h int-hot. fromthe top 111 Fig. 1. It

will be noted that it is necessary to move the signal slide to its lelthand position in rder to permit the gurst card to be inserted in thepocket. l'vhen a guest card has been inserted in a pocket the upperportion of the card bearing the name of the guest will be visible,indicating that the corresponding room is occupied and by whom. \Vhenthe guest haves, the guest card is removed and folded and again placedin the pocket at the right hand end of the pocket, as shown for thesecond pocket from the top in Fig. 1. The color signal will then bevisible, indicating that the room is vacant and unsold, and the foldedguest card will indicate that the rioin has not yet been made up readyfor use. lihen the clerk is notified that the room has been made up, heremoves the folded card.-and the pocket top then appears as shown 101the uppermost pocket in Fig. 1, indiJating that the room i:-; made upand unsold.

Card holder pocket tops of a modilied form are shown in Figs. it; to 21.holders; shown in these figures, the sight opening -l-L at the left handend of the czrd holder is made only long enough to hold the number card50. A plate similar to the signal slide 53. having a forwardlprojecting! tab 71. is placed in the holder hack of the number (:1 rdwith its tab projecting at the end oi the opening it, and serves as aguide or positioning device for the guest and to prevent it fromextending over the nmnbcr card. H'l'Vlllg also to prevent the numbercard from sliding too 'lar llit-z) the holder. The flange at the edge oithe sight opening may he crimped down to ho d the number card and plateit) In place. but this is not neccs 'aqv as these parts will he heldfrom outward movement by the frame flange H when the holder ispositioned on the partition plate of a card support mounted in thef'ame. A. transparent panel or piece 55 may be placed in the holder introut of the number "ard. The central opening l5 is located midwaybetween the right hand end ol the holder and the inner end of theopening ll. A room data tard 51 is placed in the holder to be viewedthrough the S ht opening 45 and is made long enough to extend from theright hand end of the holder to the end of the plate 70, and in -l'rontoi. the room data and there is inserted a sliding signal strip 72 whichis of transparent material and is shorter than the room data rard andhas its end portions 73 and Tl colored. preferably ditl'erent colors.The uncolored centril portion of the slide 72 is desirably of the samelength as the sight opening 15 so tha when the strip is positioned asindicated in Fig. 18, no color will be visible through the sightopening. 3y sliding the signal strip to the right or to the left. one orthe other of its colored end portions will be brought into position toshow at one or the other of the end portions ol the sight opening.

' The slide may be so operated by the linger or by means of the rubbertip of a lead pencil or Utlltil'WlStf. The permissible movement of thesignal slide desirably bears such relation to the length of the sightopening 45' that the central portion of the room data card of sufiicientlength to bear desired data will always be visible through the uncoloredportion of the slide.

In using the index racl: when equipped with pocket tops such as shown inthese figures, the position of the signal slide as shown in Fig. 18Without any colored portion of the slide showing through the sightopening 45 may be used to indicate that an unoccupied room is made up anunsold.

In the card When the room is sold, the slide is moved to the right todisplay its colored portion 73 at the left hand end of the sightopening. lhen when the room is occupied, the guest card is placed in thepocket and its upper portion covers the sight opening 45 of the pockettop as shown in Fig. 16. When the guest leaves, the guest card isremoved and the signal slide is moved to the left so that its other end74 shows at the right hand end of the sight opening as shown in lFig.17, indicating that the room is unsold and not yet made. up. lVhen theroom has been made up, the slide is moved to its central position inwhich no color is visible hrough the sight opening.

In Fig. 22 there is shown a simplified form of pocket top which servesas a holder for a room number card only, but has no provision for asignal device or for holding a room data card.

it sometimes desirable to have the room rack or other index rackarranged with unnumbered secondary or auxiliary pockets adjacent to someor all of the numbered pockets, such auxiliary pockets being useful forreceiving cards bearing information as to future reservations, etc. Thepartition plates of such. auxiliary pockets may, in order to give theentire rack a uniform and attractive appearance, be provided with blankpocket tops similar to the card holding pocket tops but without sightopenings or signal devices. Such a blank poolrettop T5 is shown betweenthe pocket tops marked with the room numbers 145 and 146 in Fig. 1.

What I claim is:

1. An index rack, comprising a plurality of partition plates inoverlapping superposed arrangement providing a plurality of cardpockets, and detachable card-holding pocket tops on the partitionplates.

2. An index rack, comprising a plurality of partition plates inoverlapping superposed arrangement providing a plurality of cardpockets, and detachable pocket tops on the partition plates providedwith marks for identifying the individual pockets and formed to serve ascard holders for cards removably placed therein.

An index rack comprising a plurality of partition plates in overlappingsuperposed arrangement providing a plurality of card pockets. anddetachable pocket tops on the partition plates formed to serve asholders for cards which are not removedin ordinary use of the rack, thepockettops-be ing formed to hold such cards against re moval when thepocket top is positioned in the rack and to permit removal thereof whenthe pocket top is moved from its normal position in the rack.

4. An index rack, cpniprising a plurality of partition plates inoverlapping superposed arrangement providing a plurality of cardpockets, and-detachable ocket tops on the partition plates each providedwith a movable signal device and fprmed to serve as a card holder. l

5. An index racln comprising, a plurality of partition plates inoverlapping superposed arrangement providing a plurality of cardpockets, and detachablepoehct tops on the partition plates formed toextend longitudinally along the top of the partition plates and havingcai d pockets therein open at the ends thereof and sight openings forviewing the cards in the pockets thereof.

6. An index rack, comprising a plurality of partition plates inoverlapping super posed arrangement providing a plurality of cardpockets and detachable pocket tops on the partition plates formed ofsheet material bent to provide a front wall and a downwardly extendingrear wall and an up wardly extending inner flange with a card pocketbetween the front Wall and the inner flange and having a sight openingin the front wall, the rear wall and the inner flange being adapted toreceive between them the top edge portion of the pock et partition plateand to bear against said top edge portion.

7. An index rack, comprising a plurality of partition plates inoverlapping supers posed arrangement providing a plurality ol'i cardpockets, and'detachable pocket tops on the partition plates formed ofsheet material bent to provide a front wall and a downwardly extendingrear wall and an 111 wardly extending inner flange with a card pocketbetween the front wall and the inner flange and having a sight openingat one end and a signal card and a room' number ca-rd positioned to beviewed through said sight opening and a signal slide movable to cover oruncover the signal card, the rear wall and the inner flange beingadapted to receive between them the top edge portion of the pocketpartition plate and to bear against said top edge portion.

8. An index rack, comprising a plurality of partition plates inoverlapping superposed arrangement providing a plurality of card pocketsand detachable pocket tops on the partition plates formed of sheetmaterial bent to provide a front wall and a rear wall and an innerflange with acard pocket between the front wall and the inner flange andhaving a sight opening in the front wall at one end thereof, anumbercard positioned to be visible through a portion of said sightopening and a signal slide mounted behind the number card'and having aprojection extendingforward through the sight opening and movable awayfrom and toward the number card.

9. An index rack, comprising a plurality of partition plates inoverlapping superposed arrangement providing a plurality of cardpockets, and detachable pocket tops on the partition plates formed ofsheet; material bentv to provide a front wall and a rear wall and aninner flange with a card pocket between the front.- wall and the innerflange and having two sight openings in the front wall, one of saidsight openings being at one end of the wall, a number card po.--itionedto be visible through an outer portion of the end sight opening, asignal slide mounted behind the number card and ha ving a. projectionextending forward through said sight opening and movable toward and awayfrom the number card, and a data card positioned to be visible throughthe other sight opening.

10. An index rack, comprising a plurality of partition plates inoverlapping superposed arrangement providing a plurality of cardpockets. and detachable pocket tops on the partition plates eachprovided with a signal device movable longitudinally of the pocket topand having a forward projection which when the signal device is in oneposition serves as a guide or positioning device for cards deposited inthe pocket and prevents such cards from covering a part of the pockettop reserved for an identification mark and which when the signal deviceis moved from such position interferes with the placing of the cards inthe pocket.

11. An index rack, comprising a plurality of partition plates inoverlapping superposed arrangement providing a plurality of cardpockets, and detachable pocket tops on the partition plates, said pockettops being provided with members slidably mounted therein and adapted tocontrol the display of color signals and having projecting parts adaptedto interfere with the placing of cards in said card pockets except whensaid parts are in predetermined positions.

12. An index rack, comprising a rack frame, a plurality of partitionplates mount ed in the rack frame in inclined overlapping superposedrelation and having bottom flanges and end flanges for engaging adjacentplates to form a series of card-holding pockets. and means for holdingthe plates pressed together in assembled position in the frame.

13. An index rack, comprising a rack frame, a plurality of partitionplates mounted in the rack frame in inclined overlapping superposedrelation and having bottom flanges and end projections for engagingadjacent plates to form a series of card holding pockets, means forholding the plates pressed together in assembled position in the frame,and detachable card holding pocket tops on said plates.

14. An index rack, comprising a rack frame having parallel sidesprovided with inwardly and baekwardly turned flanges,

and a plurality of partition plates mounted in the rack frame ininclined overlapping superposed relation and having bottom flanges andforwardly extending end flanges for engaging adjacent plates to form aseries of card holding pockets, the upper portions of the end flangesextending between the bacltwai'dly turned flanges of the frame and theframe sides.

15. An index rack, comprising a rach frame having parallel sidesprovided with inwardly and backwardly turned flanges, a plurality ofpartition plates mounted in the rack frame in inclined overlappingsuperposed relation and having bottom flanges and forwardly extendingend flanges for engaging adjacent plates to form a series of cardholding pockets, the upper portions of the end flanges extending betweenthe baelnvardly turned flai'iges of the frame and the frame sides, anddetachable pockettops on the partition plates extending along the top ofthe plates from end to end thereof between said baclnvardly turned endflanges, said pocket tops being formed with narrow card receivingpockets extending longitudinally thereof and open at the ends thereof.

16. An index rack, comprising a rack frame having parallel sidesprovided with inwardly and baclnvardly turned flanges, and a pluralityof partition plates mounted in the rack frame in inclined overlappingsuperposed relation with their lower edges against the back of the frameand their upper edges against the baclnvardly turned frame flanges andhaving forwardly extending bottom flanges for engaging adjacent platesto form a series of card holding pocket's and having rearwardprojections on which the bottom flanges of adjacent plates rest.

17. An index rack. comprising a rack frame having parallel sidesprovided with inwardly and baclnvardly turned flanges. and a plnralityof partition plates mounted in the rack frame in inclined overlappingsuperposed relation with their lower edges against. the bark of theframe and their upper edges against the backwardly turned frame flangesand having forwardly extending bottom and end flanges for engagingadjacent plates to form a series of card holding pocket the end flangesof each plate extending above the top of the plate next below andextending between the backwardly turned flanges of the frame and theframe sides.

18. An index rack. comprising a rack frame having parallel. sidesprovided with inwardly and backwardly turned flanges. and a plurality ofpartition plates mounted in the rack frame in inclined overlappingsuperposed relation with their lower edges against the back of the frameand their upper edges against the backwardly turned frame flanges andhaving bottom flanges and forwardly extending end flanges with inwardlyturned edges for engaging adjacent plates to form a series of cardholding pockets, the end flanges of each plate extending above the topof the plate neat below and extending between the baolrwardly turnedflanges of the frame and the frame sides.

19. An index rack, comprising a rack of card holding pockets, the upperportions of the end flanges extending between the backwardly turnedflanges of the frame and the frame sides, and the upper edge of theplates having notches therein adjacent the end flanges for engagementwith the backwardly turned flanges of the frame.

21. An index rack, comprising rack frame having parallel sides providedwith inwardly and backwardly turned flanges, and a plurality ofpartition plates mounted in the rack frame in inclined overlappingsuperposed relation and having bottom flanges and end projections forengaging adjacent plates to form a series of card holding pool;- ets,the upper edge of the plates being formed with notches to engage withthe backwardly turned flanges of the frame.

An index rack, comprising a rack frame having parallel sides providedwith inwardly and backwardly turned flanges, and a plurality ofpartition plates mounted in the rack frame in inclined overlappingsuperposed relation and having bottom flanges and end projections forengaging adjacent plates to form a series of card holding pockets, theplates being formed with parts extending on each side of each of thebackwardly turned flanges of the frame.

23. An index rack, comprising a rack frame having parallel sidesprovided with flanges eat-ending inwardly therefrom and having a bottomsupport, and a plurality of partition plates mounted in the rack framein inclined overlapping superposed relation with their lower edgesagainst the back of the frame and their upper edges extending for wardto the inwardly extending side flanges and having bottom flanges and endprojections for engaging adjacent plates to form a series of cardholding pockets, the bottom plate resting on said support, and a topmember removably secured to the rack frame in engagement with theuppermost plate to hold the plates in assembled position in the frame.

2a. A detachable pocket top for droppocket index racks, formed to fitover the top edge portion of a pocket partition plate and adapted to bepositioned on or removed from the partition plate by movement in theplane of the plate and transversely of the top edge thereof, said pockettop being formed to serve as a card holder and provided with a membermovably mounted thereon and adapted to control the display of a colorsignal.

25. A detachable pocket top for droppocket index racks, formed to serveas a card holder, and having a projection adapted to serve as apositioning guide for cards de posited in the pocket.

26. A detachable pocket top for droppocket index racks, formed to serveas a card holder and provided with a signal slide movable longitudinallythereof and having a forward projection adapted to interfere with theplacing of a card in the pocket when in a predetermined position.

27. A detachable pocket top for droppocket index racks, formed of sheetmaterial bent to provide a front wall and a downwardly extending rearwall and an upwardly extending inner flange with a card pocket betweenthe front Wall and the inner flange and having a sight opening in thefront wall, the rear wall and the inner flange being adapted to receivebetween them the top edge portion of a pocket partition plate and tobear against said top edge portion.

28. A rack, comprising a rack frame hav ing parallel sides provided withinwardly and backwardly turned flanges, and a plurality of partitionplates mounted in the rack frame in superposed relation and having endflanges for engaging adjacent plates to form a series of pockets, thefront portions of said end flanges extending between the backwardlyturned flanges of the frame an d the frame sides.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set. my hand.

WILLIAM F. DE SAUSSURE, .lr.

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